Bit help! Applemouth or Elliptical Snaffle?

Hey guys, I need some advice. I've been wanting to change my horses bit, she's currently in a plain loose-ring snaffle but I hear that the bits with three pieces are softer on the mouth due to the abscence of the nutcracker effect.

So I've been looking into getting a new bit and there are two that I came across that I liked.

One if the Elliptical Snaffle (which, if the name doesnt sound familiar, is a loose-ring version of the French Snaffle as far as I can tell) and the other is a three piece Apple Mouth.

What I would like, if you guys can help, is a bit of information, personal experience on the bits. The Apple Mouth is a quite a bit more expensive than the Elliptical (about twice the price) so I want to know if its really worth the extra money!

Could you post examples of those bits? The happy mouth bits are rather sick, also if you horse likes to chew on bit it'll chew thru the plastic easily (great example is my neighbor's OTTB: his bit is chewed thru so you can see that metal), and you'll need a new one. What is elliptical mouth? Is it oval mouth? If so I personally use oval mouth (lorentzo) on both my mares.

Examples:
Elliptical Link Snaffle


Apple Mouth


Sorry the images arent very big!

1st one called "oval mouth", 2nd "Happy Mouth". Well, I have oval mouth for my horses (I have copper though). With happy mouth I have mixed feelings. It's too sick (so it woudn't fit my paint) and for some horses it doesn't stay for too long. Also some horses don't like that taste in mouth. I personally would go with the 1st one or try to invest in this one: JP Korsteel Oval Mouth Copper Loose Ring Snaffle Bit - Dover Saddlery. Same price as happy mouth, same design as 1st bit, but it's nicer, because it's copper and it tastes good for horses.

be careful with copper though, some horses hate the taste, so if they are salivating a lot with out having been worked/supple it might be bc of the copper. personally i love them though, as long as the horse does ! just a thought =]

What type of riding are you doing? Do you need a bit? I ride/train all of my horses with just a nose band. I have the control and don't need to place that horrid thing in their mouths. I am new to this site, so I hope I am not overstepping, but I have never believed in bits and have seen some really horrifying devices that end up doing permanent nerve damage in a horses mouth if used incorrectly.

Thank you everyone for your input!

Gods_Creatures, I am doing everything from dressage, hacking to show jumping with my mare. We are actually currently working towards being able to ride in just a halter but we're a far way from that at the moment. Thats one of the reason I'm changing bits, even though a loose ring snaffle (which is what I currently ride in) is one of the mildest bits as it is, I'm hoping to get an even milder one because I dont like strong bits (personal preference, I understand that in the right hands, any bit can be soft).

If your horse is going well in her current bit, it might be a mistake to change it. Alot of horses would have no reaction to the difference between a jointed snaffle and a double jointed snaffle, some might react well and some might not like change. The JP is also going to have a curve to it that your horse will not be used to. Why mess with a good thing?

^ Was about to say the same thing! Is there any reason you think she is uncomfortable in her current bit? If not, then save some money and stick with what works! If it ain't broken, don't fix it.

The reason I was considering the double-jointed one is that I have to buy a bit. The one I'm using now I borrowed from a friend who needs it back so I thought that seeing as I have to buy one anyway, isnt it better to go with the milder bit?